Southern Stunner

Any avid collector of golfing experiences should reach into their pocket and make the trip to the luxurious Farm at Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand, home to a brilliant Tom Doak-designed track that is full of drama, originality and beauty

It’s hard to pick the most beautiful spot at Cape Kidnappers

TRIP PLANNER

GREEN FEES (HIGH SEASON)

NZ$385 (approximately HK$2,400), excluding 15% GST. High season runs from October through April. Low season rates drop by NZ$100. Caddies, which are recommended for the first round at least, cost NZ$60 plus tip. Carts are available – and many guests do decide to drive their way around the course – but given that Cape Kidnappers is one of the world’s great walking courses, our recommendation is to eschew motorized assistance.

WHERE TO STAY

There are 22 lodge suites – ranging from the 500 sq ft Hilltop Suite to the 708 sq ft Lodge Suite – and all are sublime, offering 180-degree sweeping views of the farm, golf course and Pacific Ocean. Decorated in what I would describe as a ‘Hamptons’ style (visitors from the United States make up the majority of the guests here), each suite features room-controlled air conditioning, high-speed wireless internet, a flatscreen TV and DVD combo (mine was hidden behind a wall painting), a spacious bathroom, a walk-in closet and a fully stocked complimentary mini-bar. While you don’t have to be a lodge guest to play the course, an overnight stay on site is well worth the splurge. The 5-star spa features three treatment rooms and treatments galore, while horse riding, quad biking and mountain biking rounds out the on-site activities.

DINING

Cape Kidnappers prides itself on its dining experience, and for good reason. Head Chef Tim Pickering aims to source his produce as locally as possible and the results are regularly spectacular. The dinner menu changes nightly and features the finest New Zealand lamb and beef, as well as seafood. This being one of the country’s most famous winegrowing regions, the Lodge’s wine cellar overflows with any number of superb offerings. Both breakfast and dinner (although not wine) is included in the room tariff, as is cocktail hour, which begins at 6.30pm. During cocktails and dinner, gentlemen are required to wear a jacket.

GETTING THERE

Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.com.hk), the nation’s award-winning flag carrier, operates regular direct flights to Napier/Hastings airport from Auckland (flying time: one hour); Cape Kidnappers is a 40-minute drive from there. Air New Zealand flies nonstop between Hong Kong and Auckland seven times a week (flying time: 10 hours, 55 mins) . The carrier is also a codeshare partner with Cathay Pacific, which also operates daily nonstop flights between the two cities.

CONTACTS

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, 446 Clifton Road, Te Awanga, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.
Web: www.capekidnappers.com; Tel: (64) 6 875 1900

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